THE following essay was adjudged the best in a competition organised by the Institution and open to boys and girls up to the age of eleven in Great Britain and Ireland. It was written by Winefride Claire Davies, of the Old Colwyn County Primary School, Den- bighshire.

" Mary and I were on the beach that wild winter's afternoon, only because we were both really keen to collect seashore specimens for our inter-patrol competition, and entries were due. We were bitterly cold, with icy winds tearing at our hoods, and the rain and spray together hurting our faces like thrown gravel.

Warning Green Stars " At first we weren't sure we'd seen the warning green stars of a fired maroon, but then we saw Mr. Howells, the Postmaster, run towards the boat- house, joined at the corner by Joe Hughes and Tom Jones, both fishermen.

Hot on their heels was Mr. Elwyn Griffiths, pursued closely by Mr. Tudor Owen, both fine baritones at our chapel. Young Wyn Creed, his bicycle quickly parked against the building, disappeared inside with Ivor and Gwyn Thomas, Mary's uncles.

Cottage Doors Opened " Soon cottage doors opened all over Moelfre and the whole village gathered anxiously on the shingle, gazing out to sea, asking each other what had hap- pened. Shortly the news spread that a small coaster sheltering about two miles off Seal Island was being driven inshore by the gale, in great danger.

" By this time, all the men were in their yellow oilskins, busily performing every practised action with great speed, as the powerful life-boat slid rapidly into the waves. Powerful indeed, but even so, we on shore watched what seemed to be the painfully slow pro- gress as she rode the terrific swell around the headland. We watched the Mono disappear in the distance, seem- ingly swallowed by sea and low cloud.

" Out of our sight, and with his vision alternating with the grey walls of gigantic waves, Mr. Tudor Owen, our coxswain, met with a situation far worse than he had expected. During the time it had taken to man the life-boat and reach the radioed position of the stricken ship, the Lady Drew had been driven inshore at a frightening rate, and was heading inevitably for the wicked black molars of rock which formed the first defence of our coastline. Even as they raced to her aid, the grim-faced life- boatmen flinched at the impact, a crash followed by the ominous crunch and grind as rocks and sea seized their advantage and tried to push the doomed vessel below.

" Each man of Mr. Owen's crew worked at his command with calm but urgent speed as he positioned his life- boat on the seaward side, skilfully holding her as steady as any man could in that foulest of weather.

Village A Rather Special One " Losing not an instant, and with a screamed 'Now!' almost lost to the wind, three desperate members of the Lady Drew's crew jumped from tilted decks, one poor fellow hitting the rail in falling, and all but sliding between the two vessels, had not the strong arms of Gwyn Thomas and Wyn Creed grasped him to safety. Another batter- ing by angry seas left the life-boat too far out to allow the remaining crew of the Lady Drew—which was by now low in the water—to jump to safety. To go in again was perilous. Rolling thirty yards away, now above, next engulfed by waves, it was wordlessly clear to the Anglesey men that another attempt to ride in beneath the bows of the dying ship would be fatal if she moved once more. These same men never faltered when Mr. Owen, his thoughts with the two men whose lives depended on their efforts, gave the command.

" When the Mona came ashore two hours after we had silently wished her ' God Speed', she carried a satisfied crew and five grateful, exhausted men from the Lady Drew. We gave them such a cheer, enough to be heard above even that gale, the seagulls joining in with screams of triumph over beaten seas.

"Mary and I never collected the specimens and Swallows won the inter- patrol competition. We were all too excited to mind losing, for the following day the news spread that Mr. Owen had been granted the immediate award of the George Medal, and there were awards for all his steadfast crew.

"Although we shouldn't boast, we think our life-boat and the grand men who man her make our village a rather special one." OTHER PRIZES AWARDED Prizes for the best essays in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and six districts of England have been awarded to the following :— SCOTLAND : Frances Mary Cameron, Kirn Public School, Dunoon, Argyll.

IRELAND: Evie Maddock, Chapel Convent School, Kilmore Quay, Co. Wex- ford.

WALES: Winefride Claire Davies, Old Colwyn County Primary School, Church Walks, Old Colwyn, Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire.

ENGLAND: Midlands: Graham Philip Titley, St.

John's C.E. Primary School, Weston Road, Stafford, Staffs.

North-East: Yvonne Nicholson, J.M.

School, Balby Street, Denaby Main, Yorkshire.

North-West: Andrew Stewart, Cross- canonby St. John's School, Crosby, Nr. Maryport, Cumberland.

South-East: Brenda Money, Aid- borough C.P. School, Aldborough, Norwich, Norfolk.

South-West: Patricia Ann Smith, East Howe C.P. Junior School, East Howe, Bournemouth, Hants.

London: Martin Charles Gutteridge, Oakthorpe County Primary Junior Mixed School, Tile Kiln Lane, Pal- mers Green, N.I3..